Phlox plant named ‘Cleopatra’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Cleopatra’, characterized by its tall upright plant habit; dark-green colored leaves; freely flowering habit; long flowering period; red purple-colored semi-double flowers; and good cut flower and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Phlox paniculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘CLEOPATRA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phloxplant, botanically known as Phlox paniculata and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘Cleopatra’.

The new Phlox plant originated from a cross-pollination of two unnamedproprietary selections of Phlox paniculata, not patented, in 2010. Thenew Phlox was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a singleflowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollinationgrown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Hillegom, TheNetherlands in July, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phlox plant by vegetative cuttings in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands sinceFebruary, 2013, has shown that the unique features of this new Phloxplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phlox have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Cleopatra’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Cleopatra’ as a new and distinct Phlox plant:

-   -   1. Tall upright plant habit.    -   2. Dark-green colored leaves.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Long flowering period.    -   5. Red purple-colored semi-double flowers.    -   6. Good cut flower and garden performance.

Plants of the new Phlox and the parent selections differ primarily inflower form as plants of the parent selections have single-type flowers.

Plants of the new Phlox can also be compared to plants of Phloxpaniculata ‘Windsor’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Hillegom, The Netherlands, plants of the new Phlox and‘Windsor’ differed primarily in flower color and form as plants of‘Windsor’ had apricot orange-colored single-type flowers. In addition,plants of the new Phlox were slightly taller than plants of ‘Windsor’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Phlox plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Phlox plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plantof ‘Cleopatra’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer in an outdoor nurseryin Hillegom, The Netherlands and under commercial practices typical ofcommercial Phlox production. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures ranged from 16° C. to 32° C. and night temperatures rangedfrom 6° C. to 18° C. Plants were six months old when the photograph anddescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox paniculata ‘Cleopatra’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Phlox paniculata, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Phlox paniculata, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright plant habit; narrow inverted            triangle; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit;            basally branching habit.        -   Plant height.—About 55.9 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 21.8 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 33.1 cm. Diameter: About            6 mm. Internode length: About 2.5 cm. Strength: Strong.            Aspect: Mostly erect. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Close to 145A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 9.4 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic; moderately concave to convex.        -   Apex.—Long apiculate.        -   Base.—Cuneate to truncate.        -   Margin.—Entire, very slightly revolute.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            slightly rugose.        -   Luster, upper surface.—Slightly glossy.        -   Luster, lower surface.—Matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Slightly darker            than between 141A and 143A. Developing leaves, lower            surface: Close to 143A. Fully expanded leaves, upper            surface: Close to between 137A and N137B; venation, close to            144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B;            venation, close to 144C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm by 3 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Semi-double salverform            flowers arranged in compound terminal panicles; flowers face            upright and outward; panicles roughly conical in shape;            freely flowering habit with about 240 flowers developing per            inflorescence.        -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant; sweet and pleasant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; plants            flower continuously from July through September in The            Netherlands.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about ten days on the            plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Shape: Narrowly oblanceolate. Color: Sepals, close to N186C;            petals, close to 71B.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 23.8 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 21.8 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 2.7 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl; lower half of petals fused and forming a narrow tube;            each outer petal with two smaller “wing-like” petals.            Length, outer petals: About 3.4 cm. Lobe width, outer            petals: About 1.1 cm. Length, smaller petals: About 1 cm.            Lobe width, smaller petals: About 2 mm. Shape, outer petals:            Spatulate. Shape, smaller petals: Lanceolate. Apex, outer            and smaller petals: Rounded. Margin, outer and smaller            petals: Entire. Texture, outer and smaller petals, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety.        -   Color, outer and smaller petals.—Developing petals, upper            surface: Close to 52A to 52B; center, close to 61B; throat,            close to 60C. Developing petals, lower surface: Close to 52B            and N57B to N57C; tube, close to 60C. Fully developed            petals, upper surface: Close to 52A; center, close to 61B;            throat, close to 60C; color becoming closer to 58C. Fully            developed petals, lower surface: Close to 52C and N57C;            tube, close to 60C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl, lower half fused and forming a campanulate calyx.            Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate.            Apex: Narrowly apiculate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, developing and            fully expanded sepals, upper surface: Close to 147B;            margins, close to N77B. Color, developing and fully expanded            sepals, lower surface: Close to N186C; margins, close to            N77B.        -   Peduncles.—Length, primary peduncles: About 19.9 cm.            Diameter, primary peduncles: About 4 mm. Length, secondary            peduncles: About 7.4 cm. Diameter, secondary peduncles:            About 2 mm. Aspect, primary peduncles: Erect. Aspect,            secondary peduncles: About 45° from vertical. Strength,            primary and secondary peduncles: Strong. Texture, primary            and secondary peduncles: Smooth, glabrous. Color, primary            and secondary peduncls: Close to 145B.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Aspect:            About 40° from peduncle axis. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146B tinged with close to            N186B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            five; filaments fused with petals in throat. Filament            length: About 0.5 mm. Filament color: Close to 60D. Anther            shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther color:            Close to 8D. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to            11D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About            1.6 cm. Stigma shape: Cleft, three-parted. Stigma color:            Close to 150D. Style length: About 1.5 cm. Style color:            Close to 183D. Ovary color: Close to 144A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Phlox.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the Phlox have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Phlox    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to    have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind, high    temperatures about 35° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 6.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named ‘Cleopatra’ asillustrated and described.